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Warily: meaning, definitions and examples

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warily

 

[ ˈwɛərɪli ]

Adverb / Adjective
Context #1 | Adverb

in a cautious manner

Warily means to do something cautiously or carefully, often due to a sense of danger or uncertainty. It is characterized by being attentive to potential risks and taking measured steps to avoid them.

Synonyms

carefully, cautiously, guardedly

Examples of usage

  • She walked warily through the dark alley, constantly looking over her shoulder.
  • The detective approached the suspect warily, not knowing what to expect.
Context #2 | Adjective

showing caution or suspicion

When describing a person or their actions, warily means to exhibit a sense of caution or suspicion. It implies a sense of distrust or vigilance towards a situation or individual.

Synonyms

distrustfully, guardedly, suspiciously

Examples of usage

  • The old man eyed the strangers warily, unsure of their intentions.
  • The cat approached the new dog warily, ready to run at the first sign of danger.

Translations

Translations of the word "warily" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cautelosamente

🇮🇳 सावधानी से

🇩🇪 vorsichtig

🇮🇩 dengan hati-hati

🇺🇦 обережно

🇵🇱 ostrożnie

🇯🇵 注意深く (ちゅういぶかく)

🇫🇷 prudemment

🇪🇸 cuidadosamente

🇹🇷 dikkatlice

🇰🇷 조심스럽게

🇸🇦 بحذر

🇨🇿 opatrně

🇸🇰 opatrne

🇨🇳 小心翼翼地

🇸🇮 previdno

🇮🇸 varlega

🇰🇿 сақтықпен

🇬🇪 ფრთხილად

🇦🇿 ehtiyatla

🇲🇽 cuidadosamente

Word origin

The word 'warily' originated from the Middle English word 'werily', which means 'cautiously' or 'prudently'. It has roots in Old English and has been used in the English language to convey a sense of carefulness and vigilance since the 13th century.

See also: war, warble, warfare, warhead, warheads, warlike, warlock, warmonger, warmongering, warplane, warrior, warship, wary.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,904, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.